ZTE's Sun Fangping: Accelerating the network service intelligence to achieve new value

Looking at the development process of the telecommunications industry, communications networks have gradually presented new forms of high complexity, super-large scale, and high dynamics in recent years under the influence of technological innovations, market demands, and policy environments, posing new challenges to network deployment and O&M.

It has become the consensus in the industry to actively use digitalization and AI innovation technologies to accelerate the transformation of communications networks. According to Omdia, a global analyst and advisory leader, more than three-quarters of enterprises in the communications industry have deployed or tested AI technology-based services in multiple areas such as customer support, fault diagnosis, and network planning, etc.

Sun Fangping, SVP, President of Global Services of ZTE, said: "As the world's leading provider of integrated communications and information technology solutions, ZTE actively promotes the digital and intelligent transformation in the deployment and operation of communications networks, and focuses on 'ultra-efficient deployment, ultimate experience, and network security', helping global operators embrace the era of AI."

Building digital infrastructure with ultra-efficient deployment

In the process of improving efficiency, ZTE takes "all-domain digital and intelligent collaboration with single-domain intrinsic autonomy" as the solution. In terms of all-domain digital and intelligent collaboration, ZTE applies digital intelligence technologies from the following two dimensions for data collaboration in the whole domain: business processes (engineering, technologies, and services) and product networks (wireless, wired, core network, and data energy), thereby achieving network deployment and improving operation efficiency. In terms of single-domain intrinsic autonomy, based on in-depth understanding of services and networks, ZTE has developed multiple intelligent tools in single domains of services and products to increase the capabilities of the single modules of network planning, construction, optimization, maintenance, and operation.

• All-domain digital and intelligent collaboration

ZTE has continuously promoted digital innovation and has developed its own digital delivery platform called iEPMS (Intelligent Engineering Project Management System), which features "Data & Computing Dual-drive", "Real-time Perception", "Intelligent Decision-making", "Outward Extension", "Smart Collaboration", and "Multiparty Win-win". This platform covers the entire end-to-end processes of contracts, supply chain, procurement, engineering, services, and finance, helping improve network construction efficiency. Based on the overall five-year plan of digital and intelligent evolution, this platform is developing towards the intelligent online stage. In 2023, the interconnection between iEPMS and the systems of operators in China's Zhejiang, Hunan, and Henan provinces were achieved, promoting both network construction efficiency and quality.

In the technical delivery field, ZTE has launched the digital and intelligent technical delivery field iTech. Different from other mode in which products and tools are separated from digital services in the industry, the iTech architecture design has a leading edge. By using innovative technologies such as AI and big data, and digital service capabilities, and by supporting multiple products such as wireless, bearer, core network, and big data, the iTech platform builds an ecosystem of intelligent tools to achieve end-to-end service interconnection. The iTech platform provides full-service coverage including precise network planning, synchronization between survey data and engineering parameters, automatic site commissioning, intelligent acceptance tests, network self-optimization, and intelligent network maintenance. Through the application of the iTech platform, the communication time in network deployment is reduced by 50%, the commissioning efficiency is increased by over 30%, the number of network-wide faults is decreased year-on-year by 8.5%, and the emergency fault recovery time is decreased by 20%, greatly improving the network deployment efficiency and network performance.

• Single-domain intrinsic autonomy

The single-domain digital intelligence tools developed by ZTE involve all communications products including wireless, wired, core network, data and energy communication products, and cover the whole service process of planning, construction, optimization, maintenance, and operation.

Taking wireless network planning as an example, through intelligent analysis and comprehensive evaluation of multiple dimensions such as network coverage, capacity, user perception, and network competition, the intelligent planning tool VMAX-RSH, with big data+AI as the core, can accurately, rapidly, and automatically output 4/5G network planning solutions, with an accuracy of over 80%. In addition, it can implement multiple tasks in parallel, therefore achieving independent output of solutions. In 2023, this platform was used to provide intelligent planning for over 50 projects around the world, effectively improving network planning efficiency and accuracy.

In engineering construction, multiple single-domain scenarios, such as iEPMS-based engineering plan management, material management, quality management, and acceptance management, are all moving towards intent-based intelligence. Taking quality management as an example, with the AI capabilities of deep learning and image recognition, AI review has replaced manual review in the business scenario of engineering quality inspection of communications networks. With the help of the scenario-based AI algorithm, quality work orders are inspected immediately upon being submitted, and reviewed immediately upon being inspected, significantly reducing labor costs and shortening the review cycle. According to statistics, the average quality inspection period of quality work orders is shortened from 4.5 days to 20 min, which improves network construction efficiency and comprehensively guarantees network construction quality.

Achieving value-driven business success with ultimate experience

To build future-oriented network O&M, it is necessary to focus on intelligent O&M based on user experience and exploration of commercial potential. Based on the intelligent O&M solution UniSeer, together with AI and big data technologies, ZTE has proposed the "service-centric" active O&M model to build a mapping model between user perception, service quality, and network status. In terms of user satisfaction assurance, this solution implements all-domain insight, identifies and locates network problems and hidden troubles that may affect service quality and user perception, and achieves intelligent closed loop of service experience through end-to-end assurance. In terms of network O&M, through intelligent closed-loop O&M functions such as large O&M models, automatic process engines, and event management, this solution injects intelligence into the O&M process, transforms offline O&M into online O&M, and provides intelligent optimization for various complicated scenarios. In terms of business development support, this solution supports the development of business operation through digital and intelligent profiles, digital and intelligent empowerment of edge NaaS, and DaaS+SaaS.

The UniSeer intelligent O&M project gradually promotes the ultimate goal of "three-zero, three-self" (providing users with a "zero waiting, zero touch, and zero fault" customer experience from a service perspective, as well as building a new network O&M experience of "self configuration, self healing, and self optimization" from a network perspective). Through intelligent DPIs, digital twins, and intent engines, ZTE provides a smart brain for cloud network integration and intelligent computing integration for the digital intelligence center, thus achieving digital and intelligent empowerment for the capability centers of operators, helping operators reduce costs, increase efficiency and achieve the transformation from manual O&M to digital O&M via systems. This solution visualizes operators' networks, automates O&M processes, and intelligently analyzes technical problems, and continuously achieves rapid and remote operations in terms of equipment configuration, O&M process automation, and network optimization to reduce the impact on users, provide users with stable, high-quality, and intelligent experience, and therefore help operators in digital transformation with all-domain cases in planning, construction, optimization, maintenance, and operation. 

Through the implementation of intelligent O&M, the terminal user satisfaction of several operators' networks that ZTE provides with managed services is increased by 10%-20%, the number of users is increased by 10%-35%, the network traffic increases by up to 130% annually, and the operator-level benefits are significantly increased.

Safeguarding network operation security with AI technology

With the rapid development and wide application of cloud computing, big data, Internet of Things, and AI technologies, the system scale and data volume are exploding. With the development trend of network virtualization and the convergence of new and old networks, the network topology structure becomes increasingly complicated. Diversified network attack methods bring unprecedented challenges to network operation security. ZTE uses the prevention-oriented and automatic control-oriented security management concept and practice, and combines the communications large model and AI capability to guarantee network operation security.

Cloud network: A heterogeneous resource pool is constructed to reduce the risk of faults caused by a single system. The hot standby function is deployed to implement seamless switchover of users affected by faults and reduce the signaling storm risk. The introduction of cross-domain AI collaboration with 4/5G network load implements intelligent service guidance and balanced distribution. An end-to-end three-dimensional monitoring and digital twin system is built to implement cross-layer, cross-domain, and multi-dimensional measurement and perception, so that faults can be predicted in advance to prevent problems.

Transport network: ZTE focuses on the construction of an end-to-end autonomous network to cover the entire lifecycle.The AI and data platform enable active network prevention, automatic optimization, and fault self-healing. Closed-loop management functions including network simulation, AI O&M, transport capability map, and poor service quality have been successfully applied in Shaanxi, Guangdong, Hebei, and Yunnan provinces of China.

Wireless network: In the face of network risks such as illegal access and stealth attacks, ZTE has incorporated intrinsic security into the design of 5G base stations, including host intrusion detection, virus detection, asset data collection, security event analysis and processing, and security situation presentation. It can monitor the operating status of 5G base stations in real time, rapidly identify abnormal behaviors and security events, and take timely measures to effectively reduce the risks of external security attacks.

Opening a new era of digital intelligence

With the rapid development of generative AI and large models, it has become an industrial consensus to promote network service intelligence. However, the implementation of the general large model in the communications industry faces many difficulties. In such an era, ZTE launched the "Digital Nebula" solution and platform,, which will implement higher-order intelligent applications in the fields of intelligent Q&A, intelligent network assistant, intelligent preventive maintenance, precise customer service, and network insight in communication network services.

The in-depth application of AI and other innovative technologies in various industries will become the true driving force for the next round of digital transformation. In the future, ZTE will continue to work with partners to establish an efficient and intelligent ecological operation mode, build long-term digital and intelligent service capabilities, facilitate the digital and intelligent transformation of various industries, and promote the development of the digital economy.

ABOUT ZTE:

ZTE helps to connect the world with continuous innovation for a better future. The company provides innovative technologies and integrated solutions, and its portfolio spans all series of wireless, wireline, devices and professional telecommunications services. Serving over a quarter of the global population, ZTE is dedicated to creating a digital and intelligent ecosystem, and enabling connectivity and trust everywhere. ZTE is listed on both the Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges. www.zte.com.cn/global

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